April 19, 2021

Rita May – Cassette Nine, April 16 2021

Four days after releasing their debut single, Auckland indie-rockers Pocket Money hit the stage at Cassette Nine bringing good vibes and two excellent opening acts with them.

My experience at Cassette Nine has generally been that its going to be a late night. So, I was skeptical when I was told that Rita May was due to take the stage at 8:00pm.

Yeah, right.

But,, surprise, surprise, sure enough Rita May and her three- piece band…Chris Townsend (drums), Ben Molliso (guitar + bvs), Sam Nash (bass) with Rita Laing (lead vox + guitar) did indeed appear shortly after 8.

Needless to say, the crowd was still drifting in at this point, but no matter, Rita led the band through a lovely set of dreamy pop including her new single The Secret’s Out, just released at the top of the month. With a propensity for covering Neil Young and Johnny Cash, this 22 year is one to keep an eye on.

Next up, it’s Elisa Beth. I knew nothing about her, but was quickly impressed and she, with electric guitar strapped on and ready to rock, led her band (also guitar/bass/drums) through a set that really got the crowd involved.

Opening song Hopeless Romantic led in to Never (about a ‘dickhead fella’). Later we heard Despondent (“about my flatmates”) and a cover of Alice Phoebe Lou‘s Dusk, taken from her just-released album, Glow.

By the end of the 9-song set, I was hooked. (BTW, Elisa Beth’s live sound is much louder and more dynamic that what you’ll find on her Soundcloud page)…a fine singer/songwriter/guitarist.

Then it was time for the headliners.

Pocket Money is an indie rock quartet from Auckland who have just released their debut single, Feijoa, on April 12th. Their sound is as sunny and tasty as the fruit they sing about.